Task Assignment

Once a user task node has been reached in a workflow instance, the workflow engine
will look up the user task definition associated with this node. It will first look
up the assignment rules belonging to this user task definition. The assignment rules
comprise a list of access types such as accounts, sub-accounts and groups. The
workflow engine will assign the new task instance to the selected access type
pool.

Alternately, a task definition may have an expression assignment
allocated to it. An expression assignment is a script that is evaluated to identify
who should be assigned a task instance. If one has been defined then it will
override the assignment rules. An example of an expression assignment is shown
below:

{$ownerid}

This means that the task instance is assigned to the user that is the owner of the
task instance.

Assignment Pools and Groups

When a user
task instance is first instantiated, it is assigned to zero or more accounts and/or
zero or more groups. The collection of all users belonging to these accounts and
groups is called a "pool". So a pool is simply a list of all the users in all the
assigned accounts, sub-accounts and groups that belong to the task definition
assignment rules. For example: if a group comprises 3 users: Janet, John and Jane,
and this group is assigned to a specific task definition, then for a new instance of
this task, Janet, John and Jane will belong to this assignment pool. Members of a
pool can all decide to take and run a task instance that belongs to their
pool.

Assignment pools are a very important concept as a task instance should
be assigned to a number of people, to allow for more throughput of work and fewer
single points of failure. In most cases a task definition will be assigned to a
group of users.

A user group is a logical grouping of people who can be
assigned one more task types.

Taking and Starting a Task

Once
a task instance is residing in a pool, it can be taken by a member of a pool (a
user). A "taken" task instance is one that an individual user has put to one side,
as they intend to carry out that task instance. Once a task instance has been taken
by a user, it can either be returned to the pool or it can be carried
out.

Tasks Instances can be taken and started from a number of locations
within Ooyala Flex's Tasks section:

Task Details screen: Using the Action toolbar.

Task Search results screen: Using the Bulk Actions mode toolbar and
the chevrons on each item.

From the My Tasks screen: Using the Bulk Actions mode toolbar and the
chevrons on each item in the My Tasks section.

When a task instance is available in a pool that you are a member of, the Task
Details screen will provide details of the task Instance and give you two
options:

Take

Take and Start

The task will no longer be accessible to other members of your team when it has
been taken.

To take a task instance, click the Take icon on the task
bar.

Note: You can also view details about the asset or the workflow that
created the task, by rolling over, or clicking on the Workflow View or
Asset View links.

Once you have taken a task Instance, the actions available on the toolbar will
change, giving you the option to start a task instance or return it back to the pool
for other members of your team to complete.

If a task instance has been taken by a user who is not currently available, a person
with the right permissions can "act as" that user and return it to the pool, or
carry out the task instance on their behalf.

Carrying Out A User Task

Once a task instance has been taken by a user
then the task instance can be carried out. This means the work to be carried out is
ready to be completed by the assigned user.

You can find tasks instances that
have been assigned to you in the My Tasks section of the User Tasks
section. The My Tasks page provides a list of user tasks that users have
taken and a list of user tasks that are available in their pool. From this view a
user can transfer tasks from the pool to their own list of tasks (My Tasks) and vica
versa. The user can also choose to carry out tasks from My Tasks.

When a user
starts a task instance they are presented with a wizard. A wizard is an ordered
sequence of screens (or pages) through which a user can interact with Ooyala Flex
and get work done. The type of work to be carried out depends on the pages, but
typically the work involves filling out form fields and viewing content. Once a user
has completed all screens, they will be offered the opportunity to add a comment in
a task completion pop-up form. A comment is stored against the user task in the
Comments tab and serves to inform other Ooyala Flex users of information
a user considers of interest to others. If a task definition belongs to a workflow
node with more than one leaving transitions, then the user will be presented with a
drop-down of transitions that can be taken in the task completion pop-up form. The
transition selected by the user will be taken by the workflow engine as it moves to
the next node.

Resuming a Task Instance

In some circumstances it is necessary to
log-out from Ooyala Flex or navigate away from your task instance wizard view
mid-way through carrying out some work. If you do this, the state of the task
instance will be preserved from the last time you saved a screen of data. If you
later navigate back to your My Tasks section, you will see that the task is
still listed in the My Tasks list and marked as started. You can continue
working on this task instance by clicking on Resume. You can leave and resume
tasks multiple times if you wish.

Cancel a Task Instance

Sometimes it may be necessary to cancel a task.
If a task is cancelled, then the associated workflow will also be cancelled. Users
are warned before they do this to ensure that they don't accidentally cancel an
entire workflow.